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before； had brought the message of Cardinal Rohan's acquittal。 A
painful smile shot for an instant over her fine features。 Yes； she
had recognized him； the young man who； at Madame de Campan's room；
had sworn a vow of eternal fidelity to her。 And now he sat opposite
her； on the benches of the commoners； among her enemies； who gazed
at her with angry looks。 That was his way of fulfilling the vow
which he had made of his own free will！
But Marie Antoinette wondered at nothing now； she had witnessed the
falling away of so many friends； she had been forsaken by so many
who were closely associated with her； and who were indebted to her；
that it caused her no surprise that the young man who hardly knew
her； who had admired her in a fit of youthful rapture； had done like
all the rest in joining the number of her enemies。
Marie Antoinette sadly let her eyes fall。 She could look at nothing
more； she had in this solemn moment received a new wound； seen a new
deserter！
Toulan read her thoughts in her sad mien； on her throbbing forehead；
but his own countenance remained cheerful and bright。
〃She will live to see the day when she will confess that I am her
friend； am true to her；〃 he said to himself。 〃And on that day I
shall be repaid for the dagger…thrusts which I have just received
from her eyes。 Courage； Toulan； courage！ Hold up your head and be
strong。 The contest has begun； you must fight it through or die！〃
But the queen did not raise her head again。 She looked unspeakably
sad in her simple； unadorned attirein her modest； gentle bearing
and it was most touching to see the pale； fair features which sought
in vain to disclose nothing of the painful emotions of her soul。
The king now arose from his throne and removed his plumed hat。 At
once Marie Antoinette rose from her armchair； in order to listen
standing to the address of the king。
〃Madame；〃 said the king； bowing to her lightly； 〃madame； be seated；
I beg of you。〃
〃Sire；〃 answered Marie Antoinette； calmly； 〃allow me to stand； for
it does not become a subject to sit while the king is standing。〃
A murmur ran through the rows of men； and loud； scornful laughter
from one side。 Marie Antoinette shrank back as if an adder had
wounded her； and with a flash of wrath her eyes darted in the
direction whence the laugh had come。 It was from Philip d'Orleans。
He did not take the trouble to smooth down his features； he looked
with searching； defiant gaze over to the queen； proclaiming to her
in this glance that he was her death…foe； that he was bent on
revenge for the scorn which she had poured out on the spendthrift…
revenge for the joke which she had once made at his expense before
the whole court。 It was at the time when the Duke d'Orleans；
spendthrift and miser at the same time； had rented the lower rooms
of his palace to be used as stores。 On his next appearance at
Versailles； Marie Antoinette said： 〃Since you have become a
shopkeeper； we shall probably see you at Versailles only on Sundays
and holidays； when your stores are closed！〃 Philip d'Orleans thought
of this at this moment； as he stared at the queen with his laughing
face； while his looks were threatening vengeance and requital。
The king now began the speech with which he proposed to open the
assembly of his estates。 The queen listened with deep emotion； a
feeling of unspeakable sorrow filled her soul； and despite all her
efforts her eyes filled with tears； which leisurely coursed down her
cheeks。 When； at the close of his address； the king said that he was
the truest and most faithful friend of the people； and that France
had his whole love； the queen looked up with a gentle； beseeching
expression； and her eyes seemed as if they wanted to say to the
deputies； 〃I； too； am a friend of the people！ I； too； love France！〃
The king ended his address； it was followed by a prolonged and
lively clapping of hands； and sitting down upon the chair of the
throne； he covered his head with the jewelled chapeau。
At the same moment all the noblemen who were in the hall put on
their own hats。 At once Count Mirabeau； the representative of the
Third Estate； put on his hat； other deputies followed his example；
but Toulan； whom Mirabeau had before hindered from kneelingToulan
now wanted to prevent the proud democrats covering themselves in
presence of the queen。
〃Hats off！〃 he cried； with aloud voice； and here and there in the
hall the same cry was repeated。
But from other sides there arose a different cry； 〃Hats on！ Be
covered！〃
Scarcely had the ear of the king caught the discordant cry which
rang up and down the hall； when he snatched his hat from his head；
and at once the whole assembly followed his example。
Toulan had gained his point； the assembly remained uncovered in
presence of the queen。
At last； after four long； painful hours； the ceremony was ended； the
queen followed the example of the king； rising； greeting the
deputies with a gentle inclination of her head； and leaving the hall
at the side of the king。
Some of the deputies cried； 〃Long live the king！〃 but their words
died away without finding any echo。 Not a single voice was raised in
honor of the queen！ But outside； on the square； there were confused
shouts； the crowd of people pressed hard up to the door； and called
for the queen。 They had seen the deputies as they entered the hall；
they had seen the king as he had attended divine service at the
church of St。 Louis。 Now the people were curious to see the queen！
A joyful look passed over the face of the queen as she heard those
cries。 For a long time she had not heard such acclaims。 Since the
unfortunate 1786； since the necklace trial； they had become more
rare； at last； they had ceased altogether； and at times the queen；
when she appeared in public； was hailed with loud hisses and angry
murmurs。
〃The queen！ The queen！〃 sounded louder and louder in the great
square。 Marie Antoinette obeyed the cry； entered the great hall； had
the doors opened which led to the balcony； went out and showed
herself to the people； and greeted them with friendly smiles。
But； instead of the shouts of applause which she had expected； the
crowd relapsed at once into a gloomy silence。 Not a hand was raised
to greet her； not a mouth was opened to cry 〃Long live the queen！〃
Soon； however； there was heard a harsh woman's voice shouting； 〃Long
live the Duke d'Orleans！ Long life to the friend of the people！〃
The queen； pale and trembling； reeled back from the balcony； and
sank almost in a swoon into the arms of the Duchess de Polignac； who
was behind her。 Her eyes were closed； and a convulsive spasm shook
her breast。
Through the opened doors of the balcony the shouts of the people
could be heard all the time； 〃Long live the Duke d'Orleans！〃
The queen； still in her swoon； was carried into her apartments and
laid upon her bed； only Madame de Campan remained in front of it to
watch the queen； who； it was supposed； had fallen asleep。
A deep silence prevailed in the room； and the stillness awoke Marie
Antoinette from her half insensibility。 She opened her eyes； and
seeing Campan kneeling before her bed； she threw her arms around the
faithful friend； and with gasping breath bowed her head upon her
shoulder。
〃Oh； Campan；〃 she cried； with loud； choking voice； 〃ruin is upon me！
I am undone！ All my happiness is over； and soon my life will be over
too！ I have to…day tasted of the bitterness of death！ We shall never
be happy more； for destruction hangs over us； and our death…sentence
is pronounced！〃
CHAPTER X。
THE INHERITANCE OF THE DAUPHIN。
For four weeks the National Assembly met daily at Versailles； that
is to say； for four weeks the political excitement grew greater day
by day； the struggle of the parties more pronounced and fierce； only
with this qualification； that the party which attacked the queen was
stronger than that which defended her。 Or rather； to express the
exact truth； there was no party for Marie Antoinette； there were
only here and there devoted friends； who dared to encounter the
odium which their position called down upon themdared face the
calumnies which were set in circulation by the other parties： that
of the people； the democrats； that of Orleans； that of the princes
and princesses of the royal family。 All these united their forces in
order to attack the 〃Austrian；〃 to obscure the last gleams of the
love and respect which were paid to her in happier days。
When Mirabeau made the proposition in the National Assembly that the
person of the king should be declared inviolable； there arose from
all these four hundred representatives of the French nation only one
man who dared to declare with a loud voice and with defiant face；
〃The persons of the king and queen shall be declared inviolable！〃
This was Toulan； the 〃soldier of the queen。〃 But the Assembly
replied to this demand only with loud murmurs； and scornful
laughter； not a voice was raised in support of this last cry in
favor of the queen； and the Assembly decreed only this： 〃The person
of the king is inviolable。〃
〃That means；〃 said the queen to the police minister Brienne； who
brought the queen every m